You’ve brought a little furry buddy into your Lexington home, and your pup is adjusting nicely. Once your adorable new four-legged companion has settled in a bit, it’s time for Fido to start training. Housetraining should be at the top of the list, but you can start training your pup while he is mastering that.

There are some basic commands that every dog can and should learn, for both Fido’s safety and that of other dogs and people. Learning to Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Lay Down are generally considered the most important. We do recommend picking up a good dog-training book. If your furry friend proves challenging to train, consulting a trainer is an excellent option.

The key to training your dog well is to be consistent. The command to Sit is often a good place to start, as it’s the easiest. Give him praise and a treat when he obeys, and it won’t take Fido long to figure it out. Once your pooch has mastered sitting on command, teaching him the command for Down or Lay Down is a natural next step.

Training your new pal to come when called can also be quite easy; some dogs learn this almost accidentally, as part of ongoing communication between man and his best friend. It may take a bit of work to ensure he obeys every time, however, and not just when he feels like it. Heel and Stay can be a bit more difficult, but almost all dogs can learn these commands, and these two are definitely necessary, both for safety reasons and for good manners.

These five basics should be mastered before moving on to any more complex commands or tricks. Just like with people, some dogs will learn more quickly than others. Being consistent and rewarding your pup for doing well are the key things to remember when training. Work with your pooch every day, even if only for a few minutes at a time. Just don’t try to train if you are in a bad mood. Your canine friend will pick up on your emotions, and you don’t want to send any mixed signals.

Once Fido has learned these basic commands, rest assured, knowing you’ve taken the most critical steps to ensuring your pup will grow into a well-behaved adult. There’s no need to stop there, however; Fido will keep learning as long as you keep teaching him. Many dogs enjoy learning new ways to please their human friends.

Please browse our website and online article directory for more tips on caring for your Lexington pooch.